Watch This Tiger Take a Flying Leap Into the Water

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It was a beautiful sunny day as the Indian Forest Service (IFS) transported a Bengal tiger for release into the wild. The IFS planned to release the tiger in the Sundarbans region in West Bengal, India. Sundarban National Park has the highest population of Bengal tigers in India — their tiger reserve is home to around 100 Bengal tigers.

As you can see in the video above, this tiger was so excited, it couldn’t wait for the boat to dock. The impatient tiger takes a magnificent leap off the side of the boat, landing in the water with an impressive splash. Then the determined tiger swims through the water, bounds onto the shore, and races off into the trees. Keep reading to learn more about these members of the largest cat species and their amazing aquatic abilities.

The Beautiful Bengal Tiger

Most scientists believe there are five sub-species of tigers, but there’s no doubt that Bengal tigers are the largest. They are massive animals, growing to over 9 feet long and weighing over 600 pounds. Bengal tigers primarily live in India. However, smaller numbers of tigers can also be found in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan. They live in a wide range of habitats, such as tropical jungles, forests, wetlands, tall grasslands, and mangrove swamps. However, researchers believe the Bengal tigers living in the Sundarban area are the only tigers that live in mangrove swamps.

Each tiger has its own distinctive pattern, which helps the wardens tell them apart. They use their stripes as camouflage, then they pounce on unsuspecting prey. Bengal tigers are carnivores, eating up to 60 pounds of meat in a day. After seeing the tiger leap into the water, it’s no surprise they can jump as high as 30 feet. Like most cats, Bengal tigers can easily climb trees, using their claws to gain a foothold in the bark. They are solitary animals and are known to be very territorial. Female tigers have litters of 2-6 cubs, and the cubs stay with their mom for 2-3 years before striking out on their own.

Do Tigers Really Like Water?

While most domestic cats loathe water, many big cats love it. Bengal tigers in particular are known to be strong swimmers. Webbing between their toes is a physical adaptation that allows them to propel themselves through the water more efficiently. Since Bengal tigers live in hot areas, they often use the water to cool off. Such large animals quickly overheat and they only have sweat glands on some parts of their bodies.

Unlike other Bengal tigers, those in the Sundarban region hunt in the swampy water of the mangrove forests. They have adapted to their habitat, swimming between islands to locate prey. Researchers have discovered these tigers are in the water most of the time. They have even learned to drink the salty water. However, wildlife experts have found the increased salinity in the water has caused weight loss, decreasing size, and the loss of their coats’ luster. Efforts, such as digging freshwater pools, are underway to deter the tigers from drinking the salty water.

Conservation Efforts

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) considers Bengal tigers an endangered species. Habitat loss, conflict with humans, and poaching have devastated their numbers. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) estimates there are only about 5,500 tigers in the wild, around half of which are Bengal tigers.

The outlook isn’t all bleak, though. The United Nations Environment Programme has committed to support conservation in Bhutan. India and Cambodia have signed a tiger reintroduction agreement to reintroduce tigers in Cambodia. India has also created 55 tiger reserves like the Sundarbans Tiger Reserve referred to in the video. Additionally, the WWF’s Tiger Alive program is working in 22 areas across Asia with the goal of stable or increasing populations of Bengal tigers by 2034.